Magnetic gun.



UR laBZHZU 0. E. MORRIS. MAGNETIC GUN. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23, 1916.j Y 1,324,204. Patented Dec. 9,1919.

Wanna,

AND PROJECTORS,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. MORRIS, 0F LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOCHARLES W. PARKER, OF LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS.

MAGNETIC GUN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 9, 1919.

Application filed February 23, 1916. Serial No. 79,889.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. MORRIS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Leavenworth, in the county of Leavenworth and State ofKansas, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in MagneticGuns, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in magnetic guns.

The object of my invention is to provide a gun from which a projectilemay be hurled by magnetic force.

A further object of my invention is to provide a magnetic gun throughand from which a magnetizable projectile may be projected by means of aseries of magnetic fields which are consecutively energized anddeenergized.

Still another object of my invention is to provide means by which suchenergizing and deenergizing may be controlled by the projectile itself.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a magnetic gun whichis arranged to impart axial rotation to the projectlle.

A further object of my invention is to provide a magnetizable projectileso constructed that axial rotation will be imparted to it when firedfrom a magnetic gun of the proper construction.

The novel features of my invention are hereinafter fully described andclaimed.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates the preferred embodimentof my invention,

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal central sectional view of a magneticgun embodying my improvement. In this view, the pro ectile is shownmounted in the initial position.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the gun.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the barrel.

Fig. 4 is an end view of the barrel.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the projectile.

Fig. 6 is an end view of the projectile.

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of the circuit, in which are located thehelices and the barrel of the gun.

Similar reference characters designate similar parts in the differentviews.

1 designates a base on which is rotatably supported on a Vertical axis aU-shaped standard 2, between the arms of which is plvoted on ahorizontal axis by trunnions 3 a barrel supporting member 4 having twoupwardly extending arms 5 at the front and rear ends thereofrespectively in which is mounted a barrel 6 provided with a centrallongitudinal circular hole 7, which forms Elie 8passage for themagnetizable projec- The barrel 6 is preferably polygonal in crosssection, the barrel shown in the drawmg bemg a tube which is square incross section on its periphery and which is in the form of a square rodwhich has been twisted, as shown in Fig. 3, in the spiral form;

Encircling the barrel 6 and disposed one in front of the other andseparated from each other by insulating collars 9 are a series ofhelices 10, 11, 12 and 13. The windings of these helices tightly embraceand conform to the barrel. Those-portions of the windings nextto thecorners of the barrel are farther from the aXis of the barrel, thanthose portions which lie against the fiat sides of the barrel. By reasonof this construction, a spiral magnetic field is provided which servesto rotate the projectile on its axis.

The projectile 8 adapted to be used in this gun is provided with aseries of spirally arranged peripheral ribs 14 disposed so as tocorrespond and coincide respectively with the spiral magnetic fields,created when the helices 10, 11, 12 and 13 are energized. By

reason of this construction, the ribs 14 will be attracted by thesespiral lines of force, and as the projectile passes through the barrel6, it will have, axial rotation imparted to it.

In order that the helices 10, 11, 12 and 13, which respectively formsolenoid coils may be consecutively energized and deenergized, so as toconsecutively magnetize and attract the projectile 8, so as to cause thelatter to travel through and be projected from the barrel 6, thefollowing described mechanism may be employed.

Secured in the barrel 6 and extending upwardly therefrom are a series oftubes 15, 16, 17 and 18, in which are respectively mounted a series ofvertically slidable pins 19, 20, 21 and 22 which are normally forced bya plu rality of springs 23 located respectively one in each tube 15 to18 to positions in which their lower ends will extend into the opening 7so as to be consecutively struck by the projectile 8. The upper ends ofthe springs 23 are respectively held in place by caps 24: mounted in theupper ends of the tubes 15 to 18 respectively. p

The tubes 15 to 18 are so arranged relatively to the coils 10 to 13,that the projectile 8 in striking and leaving the pins 19 to 22 willcause the coils or helices to be consecutively energized as theprojectile enters said coils, and to be deenergized, after theprojectile has passed more than half through the diflerent coils.

To efi'ect this, the parts are connected in an electrical circuit whichis arranged in the following manner.

Referring to Fig. 7, 25 designates an electrical generator, as forexample, a battery, which at one pole is connected by a conductor 2'6with the barrel 6, which is electrically conductive. Connected to theother pole of the battery 25 is a conductor 27 which is respectivelyconnected to one set of ends of the helices 10 to 13 by conductors 2s,29, 30 and 31.

The other set of ends of the helices 10 to 13 are respectively connectedto the caps 24 and thereby through the springs 23 with the pins 19, 20,21 and 22 by conductors 32, 33, 34 and 35.

When the projectile 8 is inserted in the barrel 6, the current will passfrom the battery 25 by the conductors 27 and 28, thence through the coil10, and thence by way of conductor 32, pin 19, projectile 8, barrel 6,and conductor 26 back to the battery 25.

The coil 10 will thus be energized and will draw into it the projectile8. By the time the projectile has passed about three-quarters waythrough the coil 10, it will strike the pin 20 and the coil 11 will'befenergized by reason of the current passing from the conductor 27through the conductor 29, coil 11, conductor 33 and pin 20, from whichthe current will pass through the projectile 8 and back to the batteryin the manner already described. In the meantime, the connection betweenthe projectile 8 and the pin 19 will be broken, and the coil 10 will bethus denergized and will offer no resistance to the further forwardprogression of the projectile.

In like manner, the coil 11 will be dee'nergized when the projectilestrikes the pin 21 and becomes disconnected with the pin 20.

In a similar manner, the coils 12 and 13 will be energized anddeenergized as the projectile strikes and leaves the pins 21 and 22, thecurrent passing consecutively from the conductor 27 through theconductors 30' and 31 and the coils 12 and 13 and conductors 34 and 35and pins 21 and 22.

The projectile will thus be forced through and discharged from thebarrel 6.

In order that the electrical contact may be good between the projectile8, pins 19 to 22 and the barrel 6, the grooves between the ribs 14 maybe filled with some non-magnetic good conductor, such as brass orcopper, 36.

The barrel support 5 may be provided with a handle 37 for swinging it onits vertical axis.

The barrel support 5 is provided with a projection 38 having holes 39concentric with one of the trunnions 3. A bolt 40 mounted in one of thearms of the standard 2 is adapted to enter any one of the holes 39 forholding the barrel 6 in the position to which it may be swung with thesupport 5.

I do not limit my invention to the structure shown and described asmodifications, within the scope of the appended claims, may be madewithout departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is 1. A magnetic gun having a projectile guide and providedwith means for forming a spiral magnetic field adapted for projecting aprojectile along and from said guide, and for imparting axial rotationto the projectile.

2. A magnetic gun having a projectile guide and provided with meanscontrollable by a projectile for forming a spiral magnetic field adaptedfor projecting the projectile along and from said guide and forimparting axial rotation to the projectile.

3. A magnetic gun having a projectile guide and provided withelectro-magnetic means for forming a spiral magnetic field adapted forprojecting a projectile along and from said guide and for impartingaxial rotation to the projectile.

4. A magnetic gun provided with means for establishing one in front ofthe other a plurality of spirally disposed magnetic fields arranged toproject a projectile from the gun and to impart thereto axial rotation.

5. A magnetic gun provided with means for consecutively establishing onein front of the other a plurality of spirally disposed magnetic fields,arranged to impart axial ro tation to a projectile and project it fromthe 6. A magnetic gun provided with means for consecutively establishingone in front of the other a plurality of spirally disposed magneticfields, and for consecutively demagnetizing the fields in the rear asthose in front are established, the fields being arranged to operateupon and project a projectile from the gun, and for imparting axialrotation to the projectile.

7. A magnetic gun provided with means controllable by a projectile forconsecutively establishing one in front of the other a plu- 7 ANDPROJECTORS,

rality of spirally disposed magnetic fields arranged to operate upon andproject a proj ectile from the gun, and for imparting axial rotation tothe projectile.

8. A magnetic gun provided with means controllable by a projectile forestablishing consecutively one in front of the other a plurality ofspirally disposed magnetic fields, and for consecutively dema 'netizingthe 'fields in the rear as those in z front are established, the fieldsbeing arranged to operate upon and project the projectile from the gun,and to impart axial rotation to the projectile.

9. A magnetic gun provided with a projectile guide and having means forestab, lishing around said guide a magnetic field arranged to operateupon a projectile in the guide for projecting the projectile therefrom,the arrangement of the magnetic field being such that the lines ofgreatest force operating upon the projectile will be disposed spirally.

10. A magnetic gun having a projectile guide, means for establishingaround said guide a magnetic field arranged to have its greatest linesof magnetic force adapted to operate upon a projectile in the guide inspiral lines encircling the axis of the guide, and a projectile havingspirally arranged portions arranged to correspond respectively to and tobe operated upon by said spiral lines of force.

11. A magnetic gun provided with means for consecutively establishingone in front of the other a plurality of magnetic fields, a projectileguide encircled by said fields, the latter having their lines ofgreatest force arranged spirally around the axis of the guide, and aprojectile having means by which said spiral lines of force impartrotation to the projectile.

12. A magnetic gun provided with means for consecutively establishingone in front of the other a plurality of magnetic fields, a projectileguide encircled by said fields, the latter having their lines ofgreatest force arranged spirally around the axis of the guide, and aprojectile having spirally arranged portions arranged to correspondrespectively with and to be operated upon by said spiral lines of force.

13. A magnetic gun provided with a sole-- noid coil which forms a guidefor a magnetizable projectile and "having means for forming a spiralmagnetic field, means for energizing the coil prior to the entrance ofthe projectile, and means by which the coil is deenergized prior to theexit of the projectile.

14. A magnetic gun provided with a solenoid coil which forms a guide fora magnetizable projectile, and having means for forming a spiralmagnetic field, means controlled by the projectile for energizing thecoil prior to the entrance of the projectile, and means controlled bythe projectile by which the coil is de'e'nergized prior to the exit ofthe projectile.

15. A magnetic gun provided with a plurality of solenoid coils whichform a guide for a magnetizable projectile, and having means for forminga spiral magnetic field, means by which the coils are consecutivelyenergized prior to the entrance of the proj ectile therein, and means bywhich the coils are consecutively deenergized prior to the exittherefrom of the projectile.

16. A magnetic gun provided with a plurality of solenoid coils whichform a guide for a magnetizable projectile and having means for forminga spiral magnetic field, means controlled by the projectile forconsecutively energizing the coils prior to the entranc therein of theprojectile, and means controlled by the projectile by which the coilsare consecutively deenergized prior to the exit of the projectiletherefrom.

17 A magnetic gun provided with a twisted polygonal barrel, and a helixencircling and conforming to the barrel.

18. A magnetic gun provided with a twisted polygonal barrel, a helixencircling and comforming to the barrel, and means controlled by amagnetizable projectile for energizing the helix.

19. A magnetic gun provided with a twisted polygonal barrel, a pluralityof helices encircling and conforming to the barrel, and means controlledby a projectile for consecutively energizing the helices.

20. A magnetic gun provided with a twisted polygonal barrel, a pluralityof helices encircling and conforming to the barrel, means controlled bya projectile for consecutively energizing the coils prior to theentrance therein of the projectile, and means controlled by theprojectile by which the coils are consecutively deenergized prior to theexit of the projectile therefrom.

21. A magnetic gun provided with a barrel having a circular longitudinalopening therethrough, the barrel being polygonal in cross section, thesides of the barrel being disposed spirally and a helix encircling andconforming to said barrel.

22. The combination with a gun having means for forming a spiralmagnetic field,

of a projectile having a spiral magnetic rib adapted to cooperate withsaid spiral magnetic field.

23. The combination with a gun having a projectile guide andelectro-magnetic field producing means, of a projectile adapted fortravel and rotation in said guide, said projectile guide, projectile andelectro-magnetic field producing means being constructed and arranged tocause the projectile to be projected and rotated electro-magnetically.

24. A gun having a projectile guide and electromagnetic field producingmeans, the guide and electro-magnetic field producing means beingconstructed and arranged to project and rotate electro-magnetically a 5suitable projectile.

25. A gun having a projectile guide and means for forming a spiralelectromagnetic field arranged and constructed to roject and rotateelectromagnetically in said guide a suitable projectile.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

CHARLES E. MORRIS.

